Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-019-09141-4 Multi‑component PZT ceramics obtained by mechanochemical activation and conventional ceramic technology Dariusz Bochenek 1  · Przemysław Niemiec 1  · Izabela Szafraniak‑Wiza 2  · Grzegorz Dercz 1 Received: 3 July 2019 / Accepted: 1 December 2019 © Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary 2019 Abstract In the paper, the multi-component PZT-type ceramics doped with Mn 4+ , Sb 3+ , W 6+ and Ni 2+ were investigated. The following chemical composition was selected: Pb(Zr 0.49 Ti 0.51 ) 0.94 Mn 0.01 Sb 0.03 W 0.015 Ni 0.01 O 3 . The ceramic powders were synthesized by two methods: (i) the classical technological method using powder calcination and (ii) mechanochemical synthesis at room temperature. Densification of the powders (sintering) was carried by free sintering method. In the case of the mechanochemi- cal activation, the development of the synthesis has been monitored by XRD and SEM investigations after different milling periods (25 h, 50 h and 75 h). From the obtained powder, the bulk ceramic samples have been prepared by uniaxial pressing and subsequent sintering. The ceramic multi-component PZT-type samples were characterized in wide temperature range by DTA, TG, DC electrical conductivity, XRD, SEM and EDS (energy-dispersive spectrometry) methods, and their ferroelectric, dielectric and piezoelectric properties were studied. At the work, a comparison of test results for samples obtained by two methods was made. The X-ray investigations confirmed that the obtained material exhibits a perovskite-like structure with a tetragonal phase (close to the morphotropic area). The detailed results of the multi-component PZT-type ceramics predispose these materials in microelectronic applications, for example, as element of the actuators and piezoelectric transducers. The application of the mechanochemical synthesis to obtain the PZT-type materials allows to shorten the time of the technologi- cal process, and at the same time not to reduce the electrophysical properties of ceramic samples. Keywords Multi-component PZT-type ceramics · Ferroelectrics · Mechanochemical synthesis Introduction The perovskite PZT-type materials are currently the best materials used in the modern microelectronics for produc- ing ceramic elements with functional applications in various types of piezotransducers, electric band filters, as sensors, actuators, generators, servomotors, frequency multipliers, electromechanical, electroacoustic, pyroelectric transduc- ers, memory elements, etc. [1–8]. A wide range of possible applications of these materials is determined by their abil- ity to form broad isomorphism phases by to substitution of appropriate cations in the main place of Pb, Zr and Ti that improve or modify and their useful properties (high ferro- electric, piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties) [6, 9–13]. The PbZr 1−x Ti x O 3 (PZT) material has a perovskite-type structure [14, 15] with the general formula ABO 3 , in which lead (Pb 2+ ) cations occupy position A, while titanium/zir- conium (Ti 4+ /Zr 4+ ) cations occupy a B position, in the ran- dom way. The adjusting of the PZT composition for specific applications takes place through the appropriate selection of the Zr 4+ /Ti 4+ ratio. However, undoped PZT compositions do not show optimal properties and multi-component doping is desirable. For practical applications, the PZT ceramic mate- rials are optimized by doping of isovalent or heterovalent substitutions of suitable admixtures in the A or B positions of the perovskite structures. PZT doping provides an oppor- tunity to control electrophysical and piezoelectric param- eters of the ceramic samples which allows obtaining a mate- rial with appropriate functional properties (for example with high or low ferroelectric hardness) [12, 16–19]. In this way, three-, four- and five-component ceramic materials as well * Dariusz Bochenek dariusz.bochenek@us.edu.pl 1 Faculty of Science and Technology, Institute of Materials Engineering, University of Silesia in Katowice, 75 Pułku Piechoty 1a, 41-500 Chorzow, Poland 2 Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Poznań University of Technology, Jana Pawła II 24, 61-138 Poznan, Poland